Is this an asterina?

[Mike N]

After 3 weeks in the tank, my live rock finally revealed a couple hitchhikers. They are starfish of some kind, look pretty close to asterina, but would like confirmation. I have spotted 2 so far, just wondering if I should go ahead and remove now.

Sorry for picture quality

 

[Kentech5]

Yep those are asterina stars. Not all are bad, in fact some say none are. I used to just throw them in my sump but nowI feed them to the harlequin shrimp.

 

[Mike N]

Yep those are asterina stars. Not all are bad, in fact some say none are. I used to just throw them in my sump but nowI feed them to the harlequin shrimp.

I heard they munch on corals... is that true?

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I have a single picture of one eating a coral, so yes, they can. Mine ate coralline, so I got rid of them.

 

[Kentech5]

I have a single picture of one eating a coral, so yes, they can. Mine ate coralline, so I got rid of them.

I believe they can too but some people get upset when I say that so I try not to be too adamant about it.

 

[Mike N]

I have a single picture of one eating a coral, so yes, they can. Mine ate coralline, so I got rid of them.

They are toast. Thanks.

 

[Murica]

I heard they munch on corals... is that true?

I've heard that a bunch but mine have a taste for coralline. I wake up every morning to find hundreds of white dots where they munched on throughout the night. I'll be getting a harlequin soon. Some of the asterinas I have are an inch big

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I believe they can too but some people get upset when I say that so I try not to be too adamant about it.

I believe the odds are low, but I can't ignore the picture.

 

[Kentech5]

I believe the odds are low, but I can't ignore the picture.

I've seen them doing it in my own tank. At first I chalked it up to them cleaning up dead tissue on coral that were already dying but then they would just take out the zoas completely. I ended up finding that if I kept the stars off the coral they would recover. So now I pick them out whenever I see them.

Next time I see one munching on the head of a zoa polyp ill take a picture.

 

[Mike N]

Thanks for the input. After seeing some other threads where people were battling asterina infestations, im just going to take them out before they multiply.

 

[singleshot]

They like the purple stuff. Which is fine by me.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I wish I could share the picture I have. I'm trying to get a hold of the photographer. It's the only picture I've ever seen where there is no doubt it is having a meal.

 

[Mike N]

I wish I could share the picture I have. I'm trying to get a hold of the photographer. It's the only picture I've ever seen where there is no doubt it is having a meal.

Pic or it didn't happen

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I took a picture of something that was in print, so it would be illegal. I don't even remember the name of the book to tell you where to look at it. I just contacted him this week and hopefully he'll get back to me.

 

[Mike N]

I took a picture of something that was in print, so it would be illegal. I don't even remember the name of the book to tell you where to look at it. I just contacted him this week and hopefully he'll get back to me.

Haha I was joking. I believe you. The fact that they eat coralline alone makes them unwanted guests in my eyes.

 

[LbulletM]

Ohhh. Following along for the coral eating pic!

 

[Oliver d]

How do I get rid if them if I dont have or cant get a Harlequin shrimp?

 

[LbulletM]

How do I get rid if them if I dont have or cant get a Harlequin shrimp?

Aggressive, exhausting manual removal until they're gone.

 

[Oliver d]

Thxs

 

[Lionfish Lair]

I got permission to scan the image and use it for the guide. Yay!! It will take me a bit to find it, though, because even though I now know the source, I don't know the issue.